While presenting at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards, Kevin Hart told the audience they were “allowed to kneel” seemingly referencing how NFL players have been kneeling out of protest during the national anthem.
“This game you’re allowed to kneel,” Hart said while presenting with fellow comedian Tiffany Haddish.
He continued: “You can do whatever you want there’s no old white men to stop you.”
Hart, 39, also said the award show was like “a typical day at the White House.”
“Beefs pop off, bad language, people run to the bathroom and send out crazy tweets,” Hart said. “It’s basically like a typical day at the White House. In your face Trump, suck it.”
Earlier this month, NFL players continued to protest during the national anthem on August 9 as the league began the first full week of its 2018 preseason.
Some players held their fists in the air, while others decided to kneel, despite the controversy surrounding the action.
Hart’s outburst was one of several political moments during the Monday night award show.
Rapper Logic donned a shirt that read “F— the wall” while singing his song “One Day” with Ryan Tedder. The 28-year-old singer was joined on stage by immigrant leaders, parents and children, all wearing t-shirts that said “we are all human beings,” in protest of the Trump administration’s family separation and detention policy.
Logic performs “One Day” onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, in New York. (AP)
During the performance, it showed families being separated on stage by a human-made wall. When the wall fell towards the end of the performance, the children and their parents reunited.
